Talking Points....
This week's discussion will focus on part two of Pastor Doug's astonishing series "Amazing Grace."
I. Rooted in Righteousness.
A. We have been given both sustaining grace and saving grace.
1. Are you as amazed with sustaining grace as you were by saving grace? If not why?
B. We should have life verses to help remind us of His love and grace.
1. Mathew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
2. Micah 6:8 - He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
3. Micah 7:8 - Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;
When I fall, I will arise;
When I sit in darkness,
The Lord will be a light to me.
4. What is your life verse and why?
C. Jesus trades our sin for His righteousness.
1. Romans 4:1-4 - What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
2. How does living under His righteousness help keep you from sinning?
D. Righteousness is right standing with God.
1. We are not righteous because we do righteous things.
2. We do righteous things because He is righteous.
3. Share a righteous thing you were able to do because of the encouragement of His righteousness?
E. Deeds don't make you righteous or unrighteous.
1. Your right standing with God is based on Jesus' righteousness.
2. An unrighteous person can do righteous things.
3. A righteous person can do unrighteous things.
4. When we find ourselves doing unrighteous things, what can we do to change that?
F. Abraham didn't earn righteousness and never could.
1. How does knowing that not even Abraham could earn righteousness, help you to accept what He has for you?
G. The requirement for Heaven isn't good, it is perfect.
1. This is why it had to come from a perfect, sinless, spotless lamb, Jesus.
2. 2 Corinthians 5:21 - For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
3. Why do you think that instead of changing the requirement to be perfect to enter Heaven, God sent His son to die for us?
H. We are saved by grace for good works.
1. Just because we are saved by grace, doesn't mean we shouldn't do good works.
2. James 2:23 - And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
3. When we find ourselves getting lazy with our salvation and not doing what He has for us, what can we do to change that?
I. We are rooted in righteousness.
1. At some point there needs to be fruit on the root.
2. What are things we can do to grow our roots so that we are able to bear more fruit?
J. People who struggle with unforgiveness, are often the same people who hold on to a works gospel.
1. When one has a hard time forgiving and showing grace to others, it is because they have a hard time receiving grace.
2. When we find ourselves struggling with forgiveness, what are things we can do to change that?
K. People don't go to hell for sin. Rather, hell is for those with unbelief in Jesus.
1. God takes the sin in our account and replaces it with His righteousness.
2. How does knowing that hell is for unbelievers not sinners, help you to show grace to nonbelievers as you witness to them?